Telegraphic receiving apparatus



Apr 24, 1923. 1,452,794

F. G. CREED TELEGRAPHIC RECEIVING APPARATUS Filed March 15 1920 PatentedApr. 24, 1923.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK GEORGE CREED, 0F CROYDON, ENGLAND.

TELEGRAPHIC RECEIVING APPARATUS.

Application filed March 15, 1920. Serial No. 366,007.

the characteristic features of which is that the dots and dashes orother signals ofthe code are representedby perforations in the tape,accurately spaced in relation to a central row of feed holes in thetape, each hole, representing a dot, dash or other signal, or partthereof, being placed either transversely opposite or in some otherfixed relation to a feed hole in the tape.

For producing such tape, the telegraphic receiving apparatus comprises(a) means for guiding and for perforating the tape embodying a suitableframework and punches mounted therein; ('6) means for feeding the tapein an endw'ays forward-direction past the punches at a ratecorresponding more or less exactly to the speed at which thetransmitting tape at a distant sending station passes through thetelegraphic transmitter at that station; (0) means for correcting theposition of the receiving tape lengthways with relation tothe punchesbefore punching the tape and driving means, actuated from a suitablesource of power, for actuating the punches, for feeding the tape forwardand for correcting the position of the tape lengthways,-should this benecessary, before the punching takes place- Different means haveheretofore been proposed for feeding the tapeforward and cor-' rectingits position lengthways to ensure accurate alignment of the punchedholes with the feed holes in the tape.

For instance, in a telegraphic perforating receiver of the type enerallyknown as a Creed perforator, see or example, the specifications offormer British Letters Patent Nos. 2834 of 1901; 1061 of 1902; 5490 of-1905 and 23834 of 1 908, the tape is fed forward by a frictionallydriven toothed feed wheel with which are associated one or two toothedcorrecting wheels fixed on the feed wheel spindle, and one or morecorrecting rods adapted to be moved into engagementwith the correctingwheel, or with oneor other of the correcting wheels if two are used,before punching, so as to adjust the feed wheel and thereby the positionof the tape lengthways, should this be necessary before each punchcommences to perforate the tape. The teeth of the correcting wheel, oreach correcting wheel, are usually made of V shape, and the co-actingend of the corresponding correcting rod, is also made of V or chiselshape.

In perforating receivers of this type in which the correcting means usedfor ensuring accurate positioning of the tape before punching takesplace, is arranged to be posi-' tively moved into the operative positionby actuating mechanism having a definite and invariable stroke ormovement there is a liability, under certain circumstances, ofinterference with the proper working of the receiver as will appear fromthe following description.

In the ordinary working of a telegraph circuit, it is always possible atany time for a signal to be received at such atime, or so distorted,thatthe mechanism used for positively effecting the movement of thecorrecting rod or rods and punches, or a example an escapement device,would be operated at a moment when the pointed end of the correctingrod, or of one of such rods, when two are used, would exactly correspondwith the top or tip of a tooth of the correcting wheel, or correspondingcorrecting wheel. The effect of this would be to break some part of themechanism, or' to cause stoppage of the mechanism used to probable thatthe machine would not be working long under ordinary conditions,

particular part of such mechanism, as forf before a complete stoppage,such as described above, would take place, causing a loss of time andpossible loss of trafiic before the operator in attendance could restartthe machine.

Now the present invention has for its object to render it impossible forthe correcting rod, by fouling the top or tip of a tooth of thecorrecting wheel, or corresponding correcting wheel, to stop the motionof the positively actuated mechanism used to operate the correcting rodat the required time and thereby interfere with the proper working ofthe receiver under clrcumstances such as hereinbefore mentioned.

For this purpose there is associated wlth or incorporated in thecorrecting rod or each correcting rod and the posltlvely actuated deviceor mechanism used to positively move it into its operative position, aspring or spring-like device or yielding part the action of which issuch that it will offer just suflicient resistance with a reasonablemargin, to prevent it being strained under the action of the normalthrust of the correcting rod against its correcting wheel but will yieldto a sufhcient extent to pre vent undue straining or fracture of anyother part of the receiver and interference with the proper working ofthe receiver, should the correcting rod meet wlth undue resistance, duefor instance to its pointed end abutting against the top or tip of oneof the teeth of the correcting wheel for any reason.

Such a safety device can be constructed and arranged in various ways.Thus, it may be incorporated in or combined with a rod or link used toreciprocate the cor-' recting rod or each of such rods, or in or withsuch rod. In such a case the rod or link may comprise two relativelymovable portions between which is interposed a compressible spring, forinstance a coiled spring, the action of which can be adjusted,

as by a nut or nuts, to act, when necessary, in the manner described. Orthe spring may be arranged between a rod or link such as mentioned, anda lever used to operate the rod or link. Or a spring-like device may beconstituted by a bent fl shaped part of the rod or link. Or the safetydevice may be incorporated in the lever or other device or mechanismused for moving the correcting rod into its operative position. A safetydevice such as described may, if desired, be associated with each punchand the means used for reciprocating it.

Safety devices according to the invention can advantageously be used inperforating receivers of various kinds in which the correcting rod oreach correcting rod, or equivalent device, is moved positively into itsoperative position by positively actuated means having a definite and invariable stroke or movement. Thus, it may be applied to perforatingreceivers of the type described in the hereinbefore mentioned priorspecifications and to other receivers, in which the correcting rods orequivalent, and the punches, are moved into their operative positions,against the action of springs, by positively actuated means having adefinite and invariable stroke or movement and are moved into theirinoperative positions by the springs, and also to perforating receiversof the kind described in the specification of another application forLetters Patent filed by me of even date herewith Serial No. 366,006 inwhich both the correcting rod or rods and the punches are movedpositively both into their operative positions and into theirinoperative positions by actuating means having a definite andinvariable stroke or movement and the use of returning springs dispensedwith.

The accompanying drawings illustrate, by way of example, twoarrangements of safety devices according to the invention.

Fig. 1 shows in vertical section, part of a perforating receiver such asdescribed in the specifi ation of the said application for LettersPatent Serial No. 366,006 of even date with the present application,embodying safety devices according to the present invention. Figs. 2 and3 are side views, at right angles to one another and Fig. 4 an end view,showing, to an enlarged scale, one of the correcting rods and itsoperating lever with combined safety device. Fig. 5 is a detail viewshowing a modification.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 41- inclusive, a is a tape feed wheel fixed on aspindle I) driven from a motor operated shaft 6 through worm gearing anda friction clutch Z2 for drawing a tape having a cen-' tral row of feedholes therein through a guideway or race 0. d and al are two correctingwheels of the kind'referred to, connected to opposite sides of the feedwheel for adjusting the position thereof in a rotary direction when thismay become necessary. c, e are the punches for perforating the tape andf, f are correcting rods for engagement with the correcting wheels d, (Zrespectively.

The punches e, e are arranged to be positively operated in eachdirection by levers r and the correcting rods or devices 7, 7, are alsoarranged to be positively operated in each direction by levers s 5 thesaid levers being positively oscillated through rollers 9, r 8, 8 by camgrooves 12, 5' in a rotary spindle u, as described in the saidspecification Serial No. 366006 of even date herewith. In this example,each of the two correcting rods or devices f, f which is guided in astationary part A of the apparatus, is connected to a rod 0) or o bywhich it is connected to its cam operated levers or a In order to makeit impossible for the pointed end P of each correcting rod or device f,F, by fouling the top ortip of a tooth of the corresponding correctingwheel d, al to stop the rotation of the spindle u and thereby interruptthe working of the receiver, there is associated with the saidcorrecting rod and the corresponding cam operated levers s or 8 used forpositively actuating it, a safety device that will, under thecircumstancesmentioned occurring, yield to a sufficient extent to avoiddamage or stoppage of the receiver. For this purpose,in the example nowbeing described, each rod 1: or c has associated therewith acompressible device shown as a coiled spring m, through which it isoperated by the corresponding lever s or 8 The strength of the spring issuch, or which can i be made such by adjustment, as by locknuts w on therod, that it is just suflicient, with a reasonable margin, to resist thenormal thrust of the correcting rod againstthe correcting wheel, butwill yield to the necessary extent under the pressure of thecorresponding cam operated levers or 8 if'it meets with undueresistance, due to the point f of correcting rod fouling the top or tipof a tooth of the correcting wheel, the end of the lever s or s thensliding on the-end of the rod 41 or 42 For this purpose, normally, theendof the lever is engaged between a collar 4: fast on the rod and acollar of loose on the rod and pressed against the lever by the coiledspring m (see Figs. 1, 2 and 3.)

A similar safety device could, if desired, also be provided on the roda: or m connecting each punch e or c with its corresponding actuatinglever 1 or 1. v

Fig. 5 shows another arrangement of safety device according to which therod or link '0 connected to the correcting rod or device f, is providedwith a bent fl shaped I spring part '0 that is sufliciently stifi' totransmit the normal thrust of the rod due to the operating lever s butwill yield when the forward end of the correcting rod or device isarrested by abutment against the top or tip of a tooth of the correctingwheel. In this case the collar 0 is fixed on the rod a.

The correcting rod or rods, and'also the punch or punches, couldobviously be caused to make their operative strokes by positivelyactuated means corresponding to or equivalent to, those described,against the action of springs for effecting their return movements butit is preferred to actuate them in both directions positively asdescribed.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my saidinvenbination with a tape feed wheel, a punch,

means for reciprocating said punch, a toothed correcting wheel adaptedto adjust said feed wheel in a rotary direction and a correcting deviceadapted to co-act with said corr'ecting wheel before said punchcompletes its operative stroke, of mechanically operated drivingmechanism and actuating means positively moved by said driving mechanismand adapted to cause said correcting device to make its operativestroke, said actuating means being adapted to yield in the event of saidcorrecting device fouling the top of' a tooth of the correcting wheelwhen making its operative stroke, substantially as described for thepurpose set forth.

2. In tape perforating apparatus,the combination with a tape feed wheel,a punch, means for reciprocating said punch, a toothed correcting wheeladapted to adjust said feed wheel in a rotary direction and a correctingdevice adapted to co-act with said correcting wheel before said punchcom-v pletes its operative stroke, of mechanically operated drivingmechanism and actuating means for said correcting device, said actuatingmeans being positively moved by said driving mechanism independently ofsaid punch and comprising relatively movable parts adapted normally tomove together as one part but one of which is capable of movement inrelation to theother in the event of the latter being arrested bycontact with the top of a tooth of the correcting wheels, when makingits operative stroke.

3. In tape perforating apparatus,the combination with a tape feed wheel,a punch, means for reciprocating said punch, a toothed correcting wheeladapted to adjust said feed wheel in a rotary direction and a correctingdevice adapted to co-act with said correcting wheel before said punchcompletes its operative stroke, of mechanically operated drivingmechanism actuating means positively moved by said driving mechanism andhaving a definite and invariable movement and correcting means arrangedbetween said actuating means and correcting device and adapted normallyto transmit motion from the former to the latter but to yield in theevent of the correcting device fouling the top of a tooth ofthecorrectingwheel when making its operative stroke.

4. In tape perforating apparatus, the combination with a feed wheel, apunch for perforating a tape fed forward by said feed wheel, means forreciprocating said punch, a toothed correcting wheel adapted to adjustsaid feed wheel in a rotary direction before said punch completes itsoperative stroke, and a correcting device adapted to co-act with saidcorrecting wheel, of a lever, means for oscillating said lever through adefinite angle, a spring arranged between said-lever and correctingdevice and adapted to transmit motion from the former to the latter butto yield in the event of the latter being arrested by the top of a toothof the correcting wheel when making its operative stroke. i

5. In tape perforating apparatus, the combination with a tape teedwheel, a correcting wheel for adjusting the position of said feed wheelin a rotary direction and a reciprocatory correcting device arranged toc o-act with said correcting wheel, of mechanically operated drivingmeans, actuating means positively moved by said driving means and havinga definite and invariable movement and arranged between said correctingdevice and operating means, connecting means adapted positvely to movesaid correcting device into its operative and inoperative positions andto yield should the correcting device be arrested by the correctingwheel before completing its operative stroke.

6. In tape perforating apparatus, the combination with a tape feedwheel, a correcting wheel for adjusting the position of said iecting theforward movement or said lever.

7. In tape perforating apparatus, the combination with a tape feedwheel, a correcting wheel for ad ustmg the position of sald feed wheelin a rotary direction and a reciprocatory correcting device arranged toco-act with said correctlng wheel, of a rotary cam device, a lever armarranged to be oscillated thereby, a rod connected to said correctingdevice and extending freely through said lever arm and adapted to coactwith the remote side thereof, an abutment on said rod between thecorrecting rod and said lever arm and a coiled spring arranged betweensaid abutment and the adjacent side of said lever arm.

Signed at London, England, this 2nd day of March, 1920.

FREDERICK GEORGE CREED.

